Baton Rouge -- Gov. Bobby Jindal has signed into law a bill that would require adults who witness cases of sexual abuse of children to report the incidents to authorities or face time in jail. Jindal's press office announced late Friday that he has signed House Bill 577 by Rep. Joseph Lopinto III, R-Metairie, part of the governor's package of bills for the 2012 session of the Louisiana Legislature.

Rep. Joseph Lopinto III, R-Metairie

The bill was one of several filed in reaction to the situation at Penn State University where athletic department personnel allegedly saw assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky abusing children and did not report the incidents.

Lopinto's bill, which became law when Jindal signed it Friday, said anyone who witnesses sexual abuse of a child and does not report it could face a fine not to exceed $10,000 and imprisonment for up to five years or both.

The bill also says that any person now required to report sexual or physical abuse of a child - such as teachers and counselors - when the abuse results in serious injuries can face up to three years in jail a maximum fine of $3,000 or both for failing to report.

Lopinto's bill also expands the list of individuals who are required to report physical or sexual abuse to include coaches; school bus drivers; professors at universities, colleges and vocational-technical schools; college and vo-tech school administrators and staff; and those who provide "organizational or youth activities."

Lopinto's bill includes among those required to report abuse administrators, employees and volunteers at summer camps, day camps, youth centers or recreation programs.

"We have a moral duty to protect our children," Jindal said in a prepared statement. "This new law will ensure that suspected cases of abuse are reported to the proper authorities and will punish those who fail to report these monstrous acts."

Lopinto said he hopes the bill he sponsored will never have to be used.